Salinas man guilty of felony child abuse

Enrique Sanchez Tejeda, 35, of Salinas, has been convicted of Felony Child Abuse in violation of Penal Code Section 273a(a) following a one week jury trial, according Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo.

John Doe was age 5 at the time of the abuse in July 2013. The child testified via two-way closed-circuit television with the assistance of the Monterey County District Attorney’s Comfort Dog, Odie.

The boy testified the defendant, got mad at him for not listening, removed his clothing, and submerged him in a tub of hot water. Later the same day, the child was admitted into Natividad Hospital for blisters to his feet and later transferred to the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Pediatric Burn Unit.

Dr. Melissa Egge, a pediatric child abuse expert, determined the child suffered from first and second degree burns to his extremities, along with numerous lacerations and bruises consistent with child abuse.

Sentencing of Enrique Sanchez Tejeda before Judge Carrie M. Panetta will be on June 19. He faces a maximum sentence of six years in prison.